Troops in Texas and Iraq will soon be on the receiving end of some encouragement and support from many Morgan County residents after they are given eight banners filled with signatures and DVDs of the Memorial Day festivities where the banners were signed.Â

The project, which was co-sponsored by Calvin George American Legion Post 37 and the Morgan County Republican Party, invited community members at the Memorial Day celebration held in May to sign banners that would be sent to troops serving in Iraq and those returning to Brook Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.Â

“We always do something at Christmastime for the troops, but we never think about guys coming back with problems,â€� said Jim NeSmith, who was instrumental in organizing the effort. NeSmith took some of the offerings last Saturday to wounded soldiers returning to the Texas base where he himself was stationed for five years.Â

NeSmith also took DVDs that chronicled the celebration and banner signing as well as get-well cards penned by local children.Â

The remaining seven banners as well as DVDs will be sent to troops still serving in Iraq.Â